Amid the fire that swept through Kumasi’s Adum business district on Friday, March 21, as an early morning fire tore through two-storey buildings, reducing multiple shops to rubble, two individuals were caught attempting to loot from the affected stores and were swiftly apprehended.
The blaze, which started around 6 a.m. at the popular Blue Light Arena, near Hello FM, spread rapidly, leaving shop owners scrambling to salvage their goods. Firefighters fought to contain the inferno as thick smoke billowed into the sky, drawing a crowd of anxious onlookers.
As investigations continue into both the cause of the fire and the attempted looting, authorities remain on high alert to prevent further criminal activity in the wake of the disaster.
Meanwhile, the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has announced that the devastating fire that engulfed parts of Kumasi’s central business district has finally been brought under control after five hours and 40 minutes of intense firefighting.
A post from the GNFS confirmed that overhaul operations are currently underway to eliminate any remaining pockets of fire.
The update comes after hours of battling flames that tore through multiple two-story buildings at the Blue Light Arena, near Hello FM, destroying several shops in the process.
Speaking to the media at the scene, Ashanti Regional Fire Commander ACFO II Peter Tetteh shed light on the challenges faced by firefighters, citing congestion in the market as a major factor that delayed their efforts.
“Our men got here early, but the unavailability of space caused a delay, making it difficult to contain the fire.
“The congestion in the market, with shops closely packed together, created major accessibility challenges for our personnel,” he stated.
